The Homeless

Who ever said homelessness is for the loser?

A year ago, teens and families in homeless shelters today would have never thought they would be sleeping on camp cots with a room full of strangers. The impact of self-esteem and sense of self-worth has come under attack in a manner never seen before! Shame, and loss of identity reinforce this pain, but to categorize “loser” with this way of thinking is simply not true. It’s about economy, loss of jobs, and the present global crisis of home ownership and a sense of belonging. It has nothing to do with being a “loser” but it has to be with being a “victim.”

There are a lot of you out there. Ever feel alone? Lost?

VITAL ISSUES YOU SHOULD KNOW:

1. 39%of homeless teens are under 18

2. 75% are self-medicating with drugs because of the pain of homelessness

3.1.7 to 2.8 million homeless teens on the streets of America each night.

4. 5000 unidentified teens die each year on the streets due to assault, illness and suicide.

5. 46% of these teens left home because of physical abuse (USDHS)

6. 40% of these homeless teens now identify as LGBT

7. 50% who llive in shelters or on the streets are there because their parents told them they no longer care for them and to leave home.

8. The average age f th homeless teen has no creeped down to 14.7 years of age.

9. Teens ages 12 – 17 are more likely to become homeless than adults.

10. 50,000 teens simply disappear each year, no one knows what has happened to them.

11. “Survival Sex” forces these teens to survive trading sex for food, clothing and s afe place to sleep. They have nothing to sell but themselves!